Method of preparing phosphate rock for fertilizers



(No Model.)

Patented oct. 4, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

y VICTOR LORD, OF ODESSA, DELAWARE.

METHOD 0F PREPRING PHOSPHATE ROCK FOR FERTILIZERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,083, dated October4, 1887.

Application filed December 3, 1885. Serial No. 184,576. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR LORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Odessa, in the countyof New Castle, State of Delaware, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in the Method of PreparingPhosphate Rock for Fertilizers, which improvement is fully set forth inthe following specification and accompanying drawing, in which thefigure is a par tial side elevation and partial vertical section ofmechanism for carrying out my invention, which isa new and improvedmethod of preparing phosphates for fertilizers; and it consists in, rst,grinding the rock; second, in passing through the material thus ground,while in transit from the mill to the bolt and whilein the bolt, ballsof a durable nature, and, third, in treating the bolted material to theproper acids.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a bolt which is mounted uponsuitable supports,

B, and has its periphery formed of different1 sized meshes or grades ofscreening material for the separate passage of the ne material andtailings, the bolt being open at both ends.

C represents a spout which leads into one end of the bolt, and is incommunication with an elevating chamber, D, the elevator E whereof issuitably operated and directs the ground material from a source ofsupply to the spout C, where it is fed to the bolt.'

F represents balls or weights formed of lead or other durable material,the weight thereof being relatively greater than that of the materialbeing ground, the same beingplaced in the ground material, so as to bevraised therewith by the elevator E and pass with the same through thespout C into the bolt.

Beneath the bolt are chutes G H J, the chute G being designed to receivethe fine material leaving the bolt, the chute H to receive the tailingsfrom the bolt, and the chute J to receive the balls or weights F, itbeing noticed that the top or mouth of the chute J is adjacent to thedischarge end of the bolt, said end being open to permit the balls orweights to leave the bolt and drop into the said chute J.

It will be seen that when the ground material and balls or weights leavethe elevator and enter the spou C they are directed into the bolt. A

The balls or weights, owing to their relative specific gravity, have adownward tendency in the material in addition to a forward motion withthe same while passing through the chute and bolt,and thus serve morethoroughly to agitate the same and thereby prevent the packing thereof,and also to permit the finer tailings escape therethrough and enter thechute H, from whence they are returned to the mill to be egronnd. Theballs or weights :linally escape at the discharge end of the bolt andenter the chute J, whereby they are returned to the place of supply ofground material or immediately to the elevator, whereby they are againcarried withthe unbolted material to the spout C and bolt A, so as torender further service in the latter, the operation thereinA beingsimilar to that hereinbefore set forth.

I am aware that it is not new in the method of preparing flour to boltthe same and to place within the said bolts or to cause to pass throughthe same coarse bran or crushed grain to prevent clogging of the meshesof the bolting cloth or Wire; also, that elastic balls and shot havebeen used in connection with bolting apparatus for iour for the samepurpose; but I am not aware that it is common to cause, in thepreparation of phosphates, balls of a durable nature to pass through theground material while the same is passing to the bolt or while in thebolt, thereby agitating the material and causing the iine powder tooccupy the lower strata of the stream lowing into the bolt.

In the ordinary manner of preparing phosagain being passed to the milland bolt.

fine powder. This necessity of placing tlfe grinding-stones closetogether quickly heats and destroys them.

By employing the balls of the character herein described the mass of thematerial passing to and through the bolt is so agitated or shaken thatthe finer particles are readily precipitated from the upper portion ofthe stream to the lower portion thereof, and are thereby readily enabledto reach the meshes ofthe bolting-cloth, passing through the samewithout being passed along over the end with the tailings, thus avoidingthe necessity of The percentage of liner powder passed through thebolting-cloth is greater than would be the case were the balls not used,and the necessity for the grinding being so fine is to some extentobviated, whereby a saving ot' the grindstones is effected.

Ordinarily the pulverized rock is of different degrees of fneness,having a certain percentage which is insoluble, and therefore notcapable of taking up the sulphuric acid; but by means of the improvementherein set forth it becomes practical in the art to pass the] solubleparts through the bolt-ing-cloth, as a much finer mesh of cloth may beused, so that all the powder treated is soluble in its character,thereby enabling the same Weight of 3o powdered rock to take up moreacid, and thus making an improved fertilizer. After the bolting thepowdered phosphate is treated with acid in any well-known or desirablemanner, the distinctive feature of my improved method being theemployment of the durable balls7 as and for the purpose set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The improved method of preparing fertilizers, consisting in, first,grinding phosphate rock; second, in passing through the same, whilepassing from the mill to the boit and while bolting, balls of a durablesubstance, and, third, in treating the rock thus bolted with the properacids, all substantially as dcscribed.

VIGTOR LORD.

Vitnesses:

JOHNA. WIEDERsnEiM, A. P. GRANT.

